Battery seal



J. W. MQRAN BATTERY SEAL May 22, 1945,

Filed Sept. 29, 1943 INVEN TOR.

MORAN.

JOHN' w.

Pnema Maize, 1945 BATTERY SEAL John W. Moran, Cleveland, Ohio, assignor to The Radiart Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation 0101110 Application September 29, 1943, Serial No. 504,208

This invention relates, as indicated, to battery seals, but has reference more particularly to a combined seal and vent for batteries, which, at times, are subjected to immersion in salt water and the like.

In the use of batteries on motor vehicles, such as vehicles designed to be diven of! landing barges and the like, such batteries are frequently subjected to immersion in or splashing by salt water, which tends to corrode orotherwise injure the batteries.

The present invention has as its primary object the provision of a seal which is adaptedfor use in connection with such batteries and which is eflective to prevent ingress of salt water and the like into the battery, irrespective of the position of the battery. I

Another object of the invention is to provide a seal of the character described, which while effective to prevent ingress of salt water and the like, is also effective to permit venting of evolved gases from the battery, irrespective of the position of the battery.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combined seal and gas vent of the character described, which is made from acid-proof, corrosion-resistifig materials, which is of simpledesign and'rugged construction, and which is not likely to get out'of order, even under the most difllcult conditions under which the battery may beused.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification, and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same.

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view through a conventional battery having associated therewith the novel seal and vent of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the water seal and gas vent;

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the'water seal and gas vent;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the water seal and gas vent, and

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view, taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. 3.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, there is shown a metallic container or box I, in which a battery 2 is disposed, the container I being sealed against access of water thereinto by means of a cover 3, which is suitably fastened to the container.

1 Claim. (Cl. 251-119) Secured to one end of the box I, as by means of screws 4 is a circular valve body 5, preferably formed of an acid-resistant plastic, such as Bakelite, and having a stem portion 6 of reduced diameter formed integrally therewith and which extends through an opening 1 in the box end.

A gasket 8 of water-proof material is interposed between the box end and the base 5a of the valve body.

The outer face of the valve body 5 consists of an annular surface 9 which is concentric with the axis of the valve body and is disposed in a plane parallel with the base 5a thereof, and a spherical central portion ill, 'the periphery of which is spaced a slight distance from the annular surface '9.

The valve body further includes an axial passageway l2, which extends entirely through the valve body, and a series of circumferentiallye spaced passageways l3, which extend through the Valve body in parallel relationship to the passageway it, these passageways intersecting an equal number of passageways M which extend radially to the peripheral surface l5 of the valve body.

The valve furtherincludes an annular metallic washer it having a disk-like diaphragm ll of rubber adhesively secured to one surface of the washer, the washer being secured as by means of screws 58 to the annular surface. 9 of the valve body, with the diaphragm interposed between the washer and said surface, the central portion of the diaphragm being distended sufllciently to entirely cover the spherical surface lll.

The diaphragm H is preferably made of a disc of synthetic rubber, which is resistant to battery acids and acid fumes, as well as to salt water, and its thickness may vary from .010" to .025". I

The conventional battery for which the valve of the present invention is especially adapted is provided with a series of vents IQ for gases evolved during the active life of the battery, these vents being connected to a conduit 20, which, by means of a tube 2i, is connected to the stem portion 6 of the valve body 5.

In operation, the rubber diaphragm acts as a seal to prevent ingress of salt water into the battery by way of the axial passageway ii, the tension on the diaphragm ll being sufiicient to overcome any tendency for such water to enter the passageway l2 by way of the passageways l4 and I3. The seal against ingress of water is further assisted by virtue of the fact that the pressure due to air or water through passageways It and it on the underside of the diaphragm will be equalised by the pressuse oil such air or water on the exterior surface of the diaphragm. In other words, under all normal conditions 01 ussse of the battery, the battery will be seeled aseinst the ingress of salt water, air, and other fluids which are likely to injure or damage the buttery.

when, however, the evolved gases in the hattery attain a. predetermined pressure, such pressure will set to overcome the tension oi the diephrsgm ll suficlently to permit the gases to escone to the atmosphere or other medium surrounding the box i by way of the axial passageway it, the specs between the spherical surface ii of the valve body and the undersurfece oi the diaphragm, and the pssssgcweys l3 and id. Toe pressure of the escaping gases is, moreover, suflicient to overcome any tendency of the water to char the battery during the time the gases thus escsge.

Tile device which has been described constitutes, in other wosds, a combined water seal and ass vent, end as such, is believed to be unique and novel in character, being effective not only to prevent ingress of soil; water and the like into the betwry, but efiective also to permit venting of evolved oses from the battery,

It will be noted moreover, that the device is operative irrespective of the position which the bettery occupies. 1

It is to be understood that the form of my invention, herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a, preferred example of the same. and

that various changes in the shape, size end ar rengement of parts may be resorted to, without departing Zrom the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claim.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

In s. combined water seal and gas vent for batteries, o. valve body having a spherical sin-lace portion at one end surrounded by a fiat, annular surface disposed in e plane perpendicular to the aids of the vslve body, 2. rubber diaphragm havins; en impel-fonts distended portion disposed over end in contact with sold spherical surface end heving its margin resting on said annular surface, an annular gasket seated on the merginel portion oi the diaphragm and surrounding the spherical surface end means for fastening the gasket to said annular surface, the valve body having on ezdei duct extending through the body to the spherical suriece end having circumferentislly spaced passes sways extending from said surtuce through the body parallel with and spaced from seid sine! duct and terminating in lateral ducts extending through the side walls of the body, sold diaphragm projecting through the gaslset so as to hove its outer surface exposed to extemsl pressure to essist in seating the diaphragm on the sphezricsl surface to normally close the axial duct and passageways regardless of the position of seidvelve body.

- JOHN W. MOE ilt. 

